It is as if many were simply waiting for his death in order to make a silly joke.

Bruce Forsyth was a master of all he did and he pulled in the punters like no other entertainer re TV , he was also someone who helped to create modern day presenting although many fail miserably next to his brilliance. Forsyth was a Master and fore runner who made Television fun his wonderful personality mesmerising us all for several decades, he for me and I am sure for many others is The Don of TV presenting.

That pre tv age also meant that some people could have an 'act' and tour around the country playing theatres and everyone saw them new.Which meant you could do the same thing for years.Especially for comedians tv meant you needed new material all the time.

I always thought he was the old bloke with the catchphrases who did quiz shows and Saturday night stuff (while I was out or living on the other side of the world) so wasn't really aware of him as some all round entertainer.

I know a couple of Sammy Davis Jr (who he has been compared to) songs .... what were Bruce's most famous songs?

he was schooled in a pre-TV age, where people had to be arsed to get off the sofa and physically go to a theatre to be entertained by the likes of him.

The arrival of the remote control didn't mean that everything before was instantly redundant or not liked, the generation that grew up with him was also still around and, in general, if THEY wanted to watch someone THEY were familiar with on the 3 (THREE) available TV channels, their offspring were generally also obliged to watch him to - or go and do their own thing.

He needed an audience - he needed to get a direct reaction; that was a big part of his act, to make his audience feel involved.

Today's audience simply sit there, stuffing their fat faces expecting to be entertained with no effort (at all) on their part. That is the least they deserve after a long week sifting through spreadsheets, attending meetings and writing reports.

Part of my childhood, so fond memories and respect. Thing is, I've never really got 'entertainers' and so called showbusiness people like Forsyth and say Jimmy Tarbrush. Yes, he was midly amusing, he was a decent dancer, singer, actor and presenter, etc, but what exactly what he really great and talented at?